Peace

 Good morning!

Is it Friday? These last few weeks have been so crazy and busy that I am having a very hard time figuring out what day it is. They all sort of run together and get mixed up and seem to trade places with other days leaving me confused and not quite sure.

As you may have guessed, I spent time working on the house this week. Tore out my parents' room. Now we need to rip up carpets and do a few other little things that haven't gotten done before we can start putting it back together. A friend of ours who does construction is supposed to help us, but he can't get to it for about 3 weeks. Pray that we can start doing things before then because the stress of living in this crowded mess is hard. My parents have to sleep in the living room, but my mom's "desk" is in the kitchen. And to get to the bathroom you have to go through the construction zone.

As for my writing, well, I've managed to keep the 100 words a day going. On Wednesday I actually had 30 minutes for leisurely writing, but I had to find a place to hide and do it because we had guys putting in a new AC/heating unit (they were here for 3 days and we were without AC for 2 days and a night) and they were upstairs and down. But I did find a place and got almost 300 words written and I got to reread my story and do some editing of it the way I like to do when I'm writing.

 Yesterday my mom, sis, and I went and watched my oldest niece play her first volleyball game. They won. They played again in the afternoon and won that game, so they are playing this morning. I won't be going. Sis and I are going to finish cleaning the house. It is so dusty and dirty!

And I have many other things I need to work on. And this afternoon my dad and I are supposed to pull up the carpets. That should be–interesting.

Today's story is the first of the ones I wrote from picture prompts at camp. Enjoy. Sorry it's rather short. It was either that or just an update.

 

    Isaiah strode up the rocky hill as his eyes scanned the area for sight of his cousin. He had watched Ember start up the trail alone, but that had been at least two hours ago. Where was she? Perhaps he should have followed her then. But no, he could see she needed some space, some time away from the crowd of cousins, aunts and uncles, cousins’ children, and in-laws, second cousins, and every other relative who had gathered to celebrate Grandma’s ninety-ninth birthday.
    “Please, Lord,” Isaiah prayed silently, “help me find Ember before it gets dark.”
    Mounting a higher peak, Isaiah turned to look at the sunset and saw, silhouetted against the sky, the form of his cousin. The trees, just bursting into leaves from the spring sunshine, stood whispering silently above her head. And the sky– Isaiah caught his breath at the sight. Pink, orange, yellow, and bits of blue all spread out as only the hand of a Master Painter could do it; their colors reflecting in the placid waters of the lake below.
    Unsure if he would wait or go to her, Isaiah stood still. Ember was dealing with grief Isaiah could only imagine, and he was hesitant to intrude. “I don’t know why you afflicted her in this way, Lord, but please comfort her.”
    A soft sob from the form on the rocks, send Isaiah down the hill to his cousin. Reaching her side, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder just as he used to do when they were kids and she had gotten hurt.
    Ember turned and buried her face in his shoulder. “I didn’t get to tell him, Zaiah,” she whispered, almost choking over a sob. “I didn’t get to tell him about the baby.”
    “Oh, Ember.” It was all Isaiah could say for a moment as he wrapped his other arm around her. “I’m sorry.”
    She sniffed. “I haven’t told anyone–until now. Except– except the doctor. I had a sonogram–”
    Isaiah waited.
    “It’s twins. Oh, Zaiah, what am I going to do? Why me?”
    “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold I will lay thy stones with fair colors.” Gently, he turned so that Ember’s face was toward the sky. “Look at the colors, Emmy. God can paint even the darkest of times with light.” He felt her draw a shuddering breath. “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
    Ember relaxed a little. “He won’t leave me, will He, Zaiah?”
    “No. He will never leave you. You can trust in Him, Emmy. And you can trust your children to Him too.”
    “Thank you. Thank you for coming to find me.” The words were a low whisper as the sun slipped to the top of the hills on the other side of the lake.
    “You’re welcome, Em. But let’s be getting back before it’s completely dark.”
    Ember nodded.
    Carefully, Isaiah helped his cousin back to the main path and they started back toward the noisy, happy gathering below.
 

Would you rather have a short story & update, or just an update?

Are your days of the week mixing up?

Any tips on pulling up carpet?

Short Today

 Good morning,

How are you today? How has your week been?

I'm doing well. Lots of destructive work on the house. ;) The sewing room is almost completely gutted. There is still half a chimney that needs knocked out, but otherwise it's pretty much done. Except for taking up the carpet. I've knocked the ceiling down, taken off lath and plaster, removed half the chimney (that's work!), taken a closet out, and done a lot of clean up.

Today we're moving my parents out of their room and will begin tearing that room out. More paneling, lath & plaster. Another ceiling to knock down, and then another carpet to take up. At least this room is a little smaller and doesn't have little closets and a chimney.

Have I found anything interesting in the walls? Yep.

• Part of a China plate or dish
• A casing for a 32 caliber Smith & Wesson bullet
• Scraps of newspaper from the Joplin Globe dated March 30, 1939
• A metal awning for a toy house
• A lady cut from a magazine or newspaper and a scrap of paper that says 1884

I have managed to get my 100 words a day written thanks to Bridget's encouragement. She and I are both trying to make it to the end of the challenge and are keeping each other accountable.

Today's story is another from the writing prompts from camp. It's short, but I don't have time to go searching for another one right now. Enjoy!

 

Cormorant

    “Dad?” Peter stopped before the door to his father’s study.
    Dad looked up from his desk and smiled. “Come on in, son.”
    Peter slipped into the office. He loved spending time in Dad’s office for his had shelves of books and a fireplace. Mom had made it look more like a library than just a regular office. The large windows looked out into the green yard, and Peter could see the neighbor’s house through the trees which needed trimming and over the grass which needed mowed.
    “Dad, what’s a cormorant?”
    “A cormorant?” Dad echoed. “I think it’s a type of bird. Why?”
    Peter sat down in one of the chair with a sigh. “Well,” he began, “some of the boys started calling Eddy Bowen a cormorant today.”
    “I see. Did you call him that?”
    “No sir. I didn’t know what it was or if it was a nice thing. Why would they call him a bird, Dad? Eddy isn’t small like a bird.”
    “Why don’t you look it up in that dictionary beside you. Perhaps if we knew what sort of bird it was it would help us understand.”
    Peter picked up the heavy book and settled back in the chair and started searching. “C . . . Co . . . Cor– What letter comes next, Dad?”
    “M.”
    Soon Peter had found the word. After reading the information about the bird, he looked up, puzzled. “I still don’t understand why they called him a cormorant.”
    Dad stood up from his desk and came to stand beside Peter’s chair. “Let me see. Hmm, not a very flattering bird. And look here, Peter, there’s another definition. A glutton.”
    At that Peter sat up straighter in his chair. “A glutton? Dad, do you think the boys were calling Eddy that just because he’s bigger than we are? I know Eddy eats a lot, but have you seen him work? He works hard and is really strong, but he’s always so nice.”
    Dad sat down in the nearby chair and faced his son. “I don’t know for sure why the boys decided to call Eddy a cormorant, but it probably is because he eats a lot. But just because he eats more than you or the others, it doesn’t mean he is a glutton, and to call someone a name in a derogatory way isn’t kind at all. A person who resorts to name calling is weak, and I hope you never join the others in such things, Peter.”
    “I don’t, Dad. I don’t like it at all and I’m going to tell the others to stop. I think some of them would if I said something. Thanks, Dad.”
    “You’re welcome, son. Come visit me again.” Dad’s eyes twinkled for Peter was often found in the study.
    With a laugh, Peter hurried out of the room. He was going to see if he could put a stop to the cormorant calling business.

What have you been doing this week?

Have you ever had to knock down a ceiling or chimney?

Did you enjoy today's short story?

Something Fishy

 Good morning, readers!

It's cloudy this morning and there's a chance of rain. That would be nice. Maybe it would cool things down a bit.

This has been a busy week.

Saturday – three of my nephews came over and spent most of the day helping us tear off lath and plaster from one of the rooms we're gutting.
Sunday – I got to enjoy some time reading, and some time talking with my BF.
Monday – I had finances to record which took quite a while since I hadn't done it in about a month. I helped clean some things up in our house, and then all my nieces and nephews came over for the evening so their parents could have a date. It was so nice to have them all over again.
Tuesday – I worked on the house some in the morning and some in the afternoon. It's not nearly as much fun working alone, but it really needs done and if we want it done sooner, we have to work on it.
Wednesday – I spent almost all day at my brother's. I watched most of the kids in the morning while my brother, sis-in-law, and two oldest nephews were at a funeral. Then I stayed and went swimming with the kids in the afternoon. That was fun. That evening I worked nursery for someone.
Thursday – Another day of working on the house in the morning and then later in the afternoon.

And while I haven't been writing (I'm using my grace week for the 100-for-100 challenge), I have been working on things like blog posts and such. And prep for the Five Fall Favorites. Yep, that's coming before too long!

And now, here's your story. This was another story from a picture prompt and word of the day from KDWC. Some of you might have already read it. But it was a fun story, so I thought I'd share it. Besides, I didn't have time to go back through and figure out which stories from last month I had posted. ;)

 Something Fishy

    “All units in the vicinity of 17th and Main, we have reports of a man who has nearly caused at least two wrecks.”
    Sergeant Caldwell picked up the mic. “Car 72. Is this person in the street?”
    “Negative. But he is walking down the sidewalk in a suit and swimming things. We’ve had at least fifteen calls on him.”
    Nathaniel Caldwell glanced at his partner and raised an eyebrow. Officer Hayden shrugged. Keying the mic again, Sergeant Caldwell spoke. “Car 72 will take it.”
    “Roger that.”
    As Caldwell flipped on his blinker and turned toward Main, he said, “How do you get a suit and swimming things on at the same time?”
    “No idea. And what sort of swimming things are we talking about?” Hayden kept a watch out his window. “It’s too cold to go swimming here. There are still piles of snow on things. And all the pools are closed and empty.”
    Turning onto Main, Caldwell debated turning on his lights, but decided some lunatic dressed in strange clothes didn’t quite qualify for lights and sirens. At least not yet.
    “There he is. Your side.” Hayden pointed ahead and down the street.
    “What on–” Caldwell didn’t finish his sentence, but flipped on his lights and moved to the left lane, thankful Main was a one-way street.
    Pulling to a stop, Caldwell let out a groan. “If that is Josh, I’ll–” With his sentence unfinished, Sergeant Caldwell stepped from his cruiser and glared at the person coming toward him.
    The young man was, as the dispatcher had said, wearing a suit. A black suit with a red tie. He would have only gotten a casual glance if he had not added to his attire. Caldwell’s gaze traveled from head to toe noticing the snorkeling mask and mouth piece on the face, the doughnut looking inner-tube held around the man’s middle, and the flippers on his feet. With long pink socks. And his pant legs had been pushed up to just below his knees.
    “Joshua Caldwell,” the sergeant growled, planting his hands on his belt. “What are you doing?”
    The young man stopped and let go of one side of the inner-tube and took out his mouth piece. “Hi Nate. I’m just trying on my outfit for Skyler and Kim’s wedding in three weeks.”
    “You could have left off the swimming accessories. Didn’t you know you’ve almost caused two wrecks? We’ve had at least fifteen calls on you!”
    Joshua looked disappointed. “That’s all? I was hoping for at least twenty-five.”
    “I ought to write you a ticket for being a public nuisance, Josh. And I doubt Skyler would be impressed by the addition to your suit.”
    “On the contrary, my dear brother,” Joshua’s grin was wide, “this is all needed for the wedding. You see, he and Kim are getting married while snorkeling. So we have to all have these face things,” he pointed to his face mask, “and flippers. I did add this here donut,” and he patted his inner-tube “because I thought I might not stay afloat otherwise.”
    For a full minute Caldwell stared at his brother. Josh had pulled some pranks before and he wouldn’t put it past him to make up the stuff about getting married while snorkeling. “Huh,” he grunted. “Why didn’t you just try on your outfit in your apartment? You could have caused a wreck.”
    “In case you can’t recall, brother, my apartment is so small that I can take three steps across the living room and bump into the next wall. I needed space to try moving. Besides, I have to work on my oration.”
    “Your what?”
    “My oration. For the wedding. I have to give a best man speech, only I’ve been told that it’s supposed to be an oration.” He shook his head. “Married while snorkeling, best man giving an oration, the reception on the beach, and I’ve heard rumors that the happy couple will be parasailing or something like that when they leave.”
    Shutting the door of the patrol car, Sergeant Caldwell stepped closer to his brother and felt his forehead. “You must be coming down with something. I’ll take you home and let Tara fix you something hot. Come on–”
    “Oh, leave me alone, Nate,” Joshua said, pushing aside his brother’s hand. “I’m not sick, this isn’t a joke, and I’m going to the park to practice my oration.”
    “No, you’re not. In case you haven’t noticed, there is still snow on the ground, you don’t have a coat, and there is no way I am letting you walk to the park in that outfit and risk causing a pileup because drivers are looking at you instead of where they are going.” He stepped back and opened the back door of the cruiser. “Now get in.”
    “I won’t fit. Besides, I’m fine, and–”
    “Get. In. The. Car.” Caldwell’s voice was a low growl, his brow was drawn low, and his eyes were stern.
    Grumbling and muttering, Joshua lowered his inner-tube and stepped out of it, and then tried to protest once more. “If I carry the–”
    “Get in before I slap handcuffs on you,” Caldwell barked.
    With a shake of his head, Joshua climbed into the back of the car and dropped his inner-tube beside him. “Hi, Hayden.”
    “Josh.” Officer Hayden nodded trying to keep back a grin.
    Sergeant Caldwell slid behind the wheel and shut his door with a little more force than needed. He picked up the mic. “Disturbance on Main taken care of. Taking subject to home for evaluation.”
    “Nate!” Josh almost exploded.
    Caldwell looked in the mirror at his younger brother. “Would you rather I take you down to the station to wait in a cell until I’m off my shift? You’re coming home to supper, and I want to hear all about this wedding in the water instead of on it. And yes, I’m calling Skyler and double checking on it if your story sounds the least bit fishy.”
    A muffled snort escaped Hayden. “Fishy?” He exploded with a laugh. “If they are snorkeling during the ceremony there are bound to be fish.”
    Caldwell glared at his partner. 

[Author's Note: I have actually heard of a wedding where the bride and groom were married while snorkeling and all the attendants and guests had to snorkel too if they wanted to watch.]

Was your week busy?

Would you walk down the street like Josh?

Have you ever heard of any strange weddings?

July Story - Part 2

 Good morning!

Can you believe it is already the 6th of August? Summer is closing in on fall, the year is more than half over, and God is still on the throne.

KDWC is almost over for another camp. We'll clean up, pack up tents, and everyone will head home. Virtually, that is. I have two more picture prompts to write but I think I can get them written either today or today and tomorrow. I've enjoyed this break from all my other stories while still writing. Some of the scenes probably won't go beyond what I wrote, others might someday get more written. And yes, I'll probably share some more on here.

I worked as an election judge for a special election on Tuesday. We had more people voting than I thought we'd have. We ended the day with 85 voters in my polling place. 

The rest of this week I've been working on trying to catch up on computer stuff, or taking care of things, putting things away, and other things. This evening my nieces and nephews are coming over so their parents can have a date. The boys will probably be helping take down the last shelves and pulling the paneling off the sewing room. We are hoping to start the actual demolition of the walls and floor and stuff tomorrow.

 Today's story is part 2 of that 4th of July story I gave you a few weeks back. Not sure how many people read it since no one commented, but someone told me they wanted more, so here is the next part.

 

    “Kate, I’ll reschedule. I can’t just leave you here alone if you’re having contractions.” Kylie stood near the front door, her purse over one shoulder but a frown on her face. “I mean, what if this time it is real, and the baby decides to come, and I’m not here?”
    “Kylie, I’m fine! These contractions are not even close together. How many other women have been left alone three weeks before their baby is due? I’m not made of glass.”
    “But I told Joe–”
    “Kylie Smith, you are going to go have lunch with Mike. If you don’t, I’ll text him and tell him you’re sick. That will bring him here.” And Kate rested her hands on her hips.
    “But I’m not sick.”
    “You’ve almost talked yourself into being sick with nervousness. Come on, you’re an extravert.”
    Kylie sighed. “Kate, just because I’m an extravert it doesn’t mean I never get anxious or nervous. I mean I haven’t talked to Mike for two years. We’ve changed.” Her voice dropped. “At least I’ve changed.” She shook her head quickly as though to shake off her thoughts and said somewhat ruefully, “And now we’re having lunch together. I don’t know why I agreed to do this.” She chewed on her lower lip and looked out the front door.
    Her twin placed a hand on her arm. “You’ll be fine, Kylie,” Kate said softly. “If I weren’t so noticeably pregnant I’d be tempted to trade places with you again.” Her remark brought a smile to Kylie’s face.
    “Somehow I don’t think Joe would like to learn you went out to lunch with a strange guy.”
    “Oh, I’d just tell him I was interviewing the man as a possible candidate for brother-in-law.” Kate smiled innocently.
    “Kate!” Kylie clutched her purse strap and her eyes glared at her sister. “Don’t ever suggest such things if Mike is around! I may not even like him anymore.”
    “Well,” Kate said practically, “you won’t know unless you actually meet him. Now, if you aren’t out in that car and backing out of the driveway in two minutes I’m texting Mike and telling him you might be coming down with something.”
    “You’re impossible!”
    “I know.”
    Kylie couldn’t help but grin at her sister. Sometimes Kate got under her skin, but she couldn’t do without her. “If you start having contractions closer together or stronger, let me know at once! I’ll come right home.”
    “I’m fine, and I’ll let you know. Now get going!”
    Kylie got. Moments later she was driving toward the local cafe, a place much loved by nearly everyone. “Lord,” she prayed, “I don’t know what I’m doing. Please help me. It would be nice if I still liked Mike, but it has been so long. And I’m nervous. Why did I run into him on the 4th? Please be with Kate while I’m gone. I don’t know which I’m more nervous about–Kate having her baby or having lunch with Mike.” She heaved a sigh and pulled into the parking lot of the cafe glad to find it not as busy. The lunch rush must not have arrived yet. “Well, here we are. Please help me, Father!”
    She could see Mike standing casually near the front of the quaint building. One hand was shoved in his pants pocket just as he used to stand waiting for her. Pausing before she got out, Kylie studied him, for it had been dark when she had seen him on the 4th. His hair was cut short but there were signs of the ways that showed when it was longer. He was watching a mother with three children walk by and a smile spread across his face.
    Letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, Kylie grabbed her purse and reached for the door handle. “He still looks like the Mike I knew.”
    The air was humid and hot. Mike saw her and smiled as she approached. “Hi,” he said. “Hungry?”
    Kylie nodded. “It doesn’t look too busy. Looks like we beat the lunch rush. Thanks.” She stepped through the door Mike opened for her. “Do you eat here often?”
    “I’ve actually never eaten here before,” admitted Mike casting a quick glance around. “Reminds me of Ma’s Kitchen back in Iowa.”
    “Table for two?”
    Kylie nodded and then followed the waitress to a booth near the back of the cafe.
    As Mike slid into the seat across from her, Kylie wondered for the seventh or was it the seventieth time why she had agreed to this plan of having lunch together. Picking up her menu, she scanned it even though she already knew what she wanted.
    “So, what’s the best thing to get?”
    Kylie looked up. “That depends on if you want chicken for beef.”
    “Tell me the best of both and I’ll pick.”
    A smile found it’s way to Kylie’s lips. That was exactly what Mike from two years ago would have said. “The grilled chicken sandwich is the best chicken meal. But if you want beef go with the smothered cow.”
    “Wow, they both sound good.” And Mike studied both selections with care. “Although a smothered cow sounds a bit–interesting. But I’ll try it. What are you getting? Chicken?”
    Kylie nodded. “Sometimes I get the pasta, but Kate can’t stand the smell of chicken right now and I’ve been longing for some.”
    “When’s she due?”
    “Three weeks. She’s had some contractions today so if I get a call or text, I’m leaving.”
    Mike grinned. “I don’t blame you. Is this the first niece, nephew–?”
    “Yes. Kate and Joe decided not to find out and I can’t wait!”
    Just then their waitress returned with waters for them and took their order. When she left, Kylie squeezed two lemon slices into her water and then ate another one.
    “I still don’t know how you can stand to eat those things.” And Mike made face.
    Kylie laughed remembering his shock the first time she had eaten a lemon slice.  

How has your week been?

Do you like to eat lemon slices at a restaurant?

Are you ready for summer to end?